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The Instant Pot Duo Crisp promises two of the most useful tools in a lectin-conscious kitchen in a single base: a pressure cooker for soaked beans, lentils and chickpeas, and an air fryer for crisp vegetables and proteins without a pot of oil. If you have been wondering whether an Instant Pot air fryer combo is worth the counter space, or whether you should buy two separate appliances, this review walks through the Duo Crisp, its single-lid sibling the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, and the alternatives worth comparing.
How we chose: We did not lab-test these appliances. We compared the specifications on each Amazon listing, the included accessories and materials, recurring themes in owner feedback, and independent video reviews, and confirmed each product was available on Amazon at the time of writing.
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. If you have a health condition or are considering a major dietary change, talk to your doctor or a registered dietitian.
Quick Picks: Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer Combos at a Glance
| Appliance | Best for | Key spec | Where to buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8 Qt 11-in-1 | Best overall combo | 8 qt, 1500W, two separate lids | Check price on Amazon |
| Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid 6.5 Qt | Best single-lid design | 13 functions, one lid does both | Check price on Amazon |
| Nuwave Duet 6 Qt | Best non-Instant alternative | 3 lids, uncoated 18/10 steel pot | Check price on Amazon |
| Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6 Qt | Best if you already own a pressure cooker | Standalone air fryer, 95–400°F | Check price on Amazon |
1. Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8 Qt 11-in-1 — Best overall combo
The Duo Crisp is a full-size Instant Pot that ships with two lids: a regular pressure-cooking lid and a separate air fryer lid with its own heating element and fan. You pressure cook with one, then swap to the other to air fry, roast, bake or dehydrate in the same base. Instant Pot lists 11 cooking functions (air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, pressure cook, slow cook, sauté, steam, sterilize, warm and rice) with 11 one-touch Smart Programs.
The cooking pot is 18/8 stainless steel with a tri-ply bottom that Instant Pot says is stovetop- and oven-friendly, with silicone handles for lifting. The listing includes an air fryer basket and base, a broil/dehydrator tray, a steam rack and a protective pad for setting the hot air fryer lid down. One thing to know: the product’s safety information states that it contains PTFE, and some owners mention the nonstick coating on the air fryer basket chipping over time. The main cooking pot itself is stainless steel.
Key specs
- Capacity: 8 quarts (up to 8 servings)
- Power: 1500W
- Functions: 11-in-1 with 11 one-touch Smart Programs
- Air fry temperature range: 70°F to 450°F (per listing)
- Inner pot: 18/8 stainless steel, tri-ply bottom, silicone handles
- Included: pressure lid, air fryer lid, air fryer basket and base, broil/dehydrator tray, steam rack, protective pad
- Size and weight: 13.58″ D x 14.76″ W x 15.28″ H; 22.2 lb
- Model: 140-0021-01
Pros
- True two-in-one: pressure cook beans, then crisp them in the same pot
- Large 8-quart capacity suits batch cooking and families
- Stainless steel cooking pot
- Separate lids mean you can clean or store each one independently
Cons
- The extra lid needs somewhere to live, and it gets hot
- Heavy and tall, at over 22 lb and about 15 inches high
- Air fryer basket is coated, and the listing notes PTFE
- Air-frying capacity is smaller than the pot size suggests, since food sits in a basket
Best for: Households who cook beans, soups and stews often and want to air fry vegetables and proteins without buying a second appliance.
Watch: Pressure Luck Cooking shows how the Duo Crisp’s two lids work in practice.
2. Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid 6.5 Qt — Best single-lid design
The Ultimate Lid version solves the Duo Crisp’s biggest annoyance: there is only one lid, and it switches between pressure cooking and air frying. Instant Pot lists 13 functions, adding sous vide, yogurt, broil and bread proofing to the usual pressure cook, air fry, slow cook, steam, sauté, roast, bake, dehydrate and keep warm.
Venting is triggered from the control panel rather than by hand, and the display shows an “OK to Open Lid” message when it is safe, a nice touch for anyone nervous about steam release. The pressure-cooking cover, air frying rack and cooking pot are dishwasher-safe. A Wi-Fi version (Duo Crisp Ultimate with Wi-Fi) pairs with the Instant Connect app for guided recipes.
Key specs
- Capacity: 6.5 quarts (up to 6 servings)
- Power: 1500W
- Functions: 13-in-1, including sous vide, yogurt and bread proofing
- Lid: single lid for pressure cooking and air frying
- Steam release: activated from the control panel, with an “OK to Open Lid” message
- Dishwasher-safe: pressure-cooking cover, air frying rack, cooking pot
- Size and weight: 15.4″ D x 15.5″ W x 13.4″ H; 23.3 lb
- Model: 140-0068-01; one-year limited warranty
Pros
- No second lid to store or find a hot landing spot for
- Hands-off venting from the control panel
- More functions than the original Duo Crisp
Cons
- Smaller 6.5-quart capacity than the 8-quart Duo Crisp
- Slightly heavier, with a wide footprint
- Some reviewers prefer the simpler two-lid design, so it’s worth watching a comparison first
Best for: Smaller households and anyone with limited storage who wants a cleaner, one-lid combo.
Watch: The Average Kitchen compares the Ultimate Lid with the original Duo Crisp.
3. Nuwave Duet 6 Qt — Best non-Instant alternative
If you want a pressure cooker and air fryer combo from a different brand, the Nuwave Duet is a well-equipped option. It comes with removable lids for pressure cooking and air frying, and a “Combo Cook” mode that pressure cooks first and then air fries to finish. Nuwave lists 300 one-touch presets plus 150 memory slots.
For a lectin-conscious cook who wants to avoid coated surfaces, the standout spec is the inner pot: heavy-duty, triple-thick 18/10 stainless steel, non-coated, per the listing. It ships with a stainless steel air fry basket and a reversible rack. Nuwave lists a maximum pressure of 80 kPa, and the air fryer runs from 80°F to 400°F.
Key specs
- Capacity: 6 quarts
- Power: 1500W
- Lids: 3 removable lids (including pressure and air fryer lids)
- Presets: 300 one-touch presets plus 150 memory slots; Combo Cook mode
- Inner pot: 18/10 stainless steel, triple-thick, non-coated
- Temperature range: 80°F to 400°F; max pressure 80 kPa
- Included: stainless steel air fry basket, reversible rack
- Size and weight: 14.75″ D x 12.75″ W x 13.5″ H; 21.2 lb
Pros
- Uncoated stainless steel pot and stainless air fry basket
- Combo Cook mode automates pressure-then-crisp recipes
- Sold and shipped by Amazon at the time of writing
Cons
- Hundreds of presets can feel overwhelming
- Smaller recipe community than Instant Pot
- Multiple lids still need storage space
Best for: Cooks who want a combo cooker with an uncoated steel pot and basket, and don’t mind learning a new interface.
4. Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6 Qt — Best if you already own a pressure cooker
If you already have a working Instant Pot, a combo may not make sense. A standalone air fryer like the Vortex Plus lets you pressure cook beans in one appliance while vegetables crisp in the other at the same time, which a combo cooker can’t do. The Vortex Plus offers six functions (air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate and reheat) with a 95°F to 400°F range and a touchscreen.
Key specs
- Capacity: 6 quarts (up to 6 portions)
- Functions: air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, reheat
- Temperature range: 95°F to 400°F
- Basket: nonstick
- Size: 12.36″ D x 14.92″ W x 12.83″ H
Pros
- Cook two things at once alongside your pressure cooker
- Little to no preheating, per Instant Pot
- Shares the EvenCrisp air-flow design used in the Duo Crisp
Cons
- Takes up a second spot on the counter
- Nonstick basket coating
- No pressure-cooking function
Best for: Existing Instant Pot owners who want to add air frying without replacing a cooker that still works.
Why a Pressure Cooker + Air Fryer Fits a Lectin-Conscious Kitchen
Pressure cooking is the part that matters most for lectins. Raw or undercooked beans, especially red kidney beans, contain a lectin that can cause stomach upset, and the U.S. FDA advises soaking and thoroughly boiling them. Dr. Gundry recommends soaking legumes and then pressure cooking them (Gundry MD), while noting that a pressure cooker “won’t get every last lectin.” Research supports thorough wet-heat cooking: a classic study found kidney bean lectin activity fell below detectable levels after soaked beans were boiled for 15 minutes or unsoaked beans were pressure cooked (Thompson et al., 1983). For the full method and cook times, see our guide to the best pressure cookers for cooking lectins out of beans.
The air fryer is about everyday convenience rather than lectins: it crisps vegetables, chicken and fish with little oil. There is one more modest point in its favor. In a lab study on potatoes, air frying produced about 90% less acrylamide than deep-oil frying (Sansano et al., 2015). Acrylamide forms when starchy foods are browned at high heat, and the FDA suggests cooking to a golden yellow rather than dark brown. A combo cooker lets you do both jobs, such as pressure cooking soaked chickpeas and then air frying them until crisp, in one pot.
Buying Guide: Combo Cooker or Two Appliances?
Two lids vs. one lid
The original Duo Crisp’s two-lid design is simple and proven, but the air fryer lid is bulky and hot after use. The Ultimate Lid version does everything with one lid, which is tidier but makes the whole unit a little bigger and heavier.
Capacity
Choose 8 quarts for families, batch-cooked beans or stock, and 6 to 6.5 quarts for one to four people. Remember that air-frying space is limited to the basket, so large batches of crisp food still need to be cooked in rounds.
Materials and coatings
All the combo cookers here use a stainless steel cooking pot, which is what matters most for pressure cooking. Air fryer baskets are usually nonstick-coated, and the Duo Crisp listing notes PTFE. If you’d rather avoid coated baskets, the Nuwave Duet ships with a stainless steel air fry basket, or you can line a basket with parchment made for air fryers.
Counter space and storage
Combo cookers are tall and heavy, at around 21 to 23 lb. Measure the height under your cabinets before buying, and plan where a second lid will be stored if you choose the two-lid Duo Crisp.
Combo vs. separates
A combo saves space and money if you don’t own either appliance. If you already own an Instant Pot, a standalone air fryer like the Vortex Plus is usually the better buy, since you can run both at once.
FAQ
Is the Instant Pot Duo Crisp worth it?
If you want both a pressure cooker and an air fryer and have the counter space, yes. It replaces two appliances, has a stainless steel cooking pot, and the 8-quart size handles big batches. If you already own a pressure cooker, a standalone air fryer is usually better value.
What is the difference between the Duo Crisp and the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid?
The original Duo Crisp (8 qt, 11 functions) uses two separate lids. The Ultimate Lid model (6.5 qt, 13 functions) uses one lid for both pressure cooking and air frying, adds sous vide, yogurt and proofing, and vents from the control panel.
Can you cook beans in the Instant Pot Duo Crisp?
Yes. Use the pressure-cooking lid exactly as you would in a standard Instant Pot. Soak dried beans first, cook them in fresh water until completely tender, and don’t fill past the maximum line, since beans foam.
Does the Instant Pot Duo Crisp have a nonstick coating?
The main cooking pot is 18/8 stainless steel. The air fryer basket is coated, and the product’s safety information states it contains PTFE.
Is air-fried food healthier than deep-fried food?
Air frying uses far less oil, and one lab study found air-fried potatoes had about 90% less acrylamide than deep-fried ones. How healthy a meal is still depends mostly on what you cook.
Final Thoughts
For most people who want one appliance that pressure cooks and air fries, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 8 Qt is the proven pick. Choose the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid if you hate juggling a second lid, the Nuwave Duet if you want an uncoated steel pot and basket, or add a Vortex Plus air fryer if you already own a pressure cooker. Whatever you choose, soak your beans, cook them until completely tender, and enjoy the crispy side dishes.
Sources
- Gundry MD — How to Use a Pressure Cooker
- U.S. FDA — Natural Toxins in Food
- Thompson LU et al. Effect of Heat Processing on Hemagglutinin Activity in Red Kidney Beans. J Food Sci. 1983
- Sansano M et al. Effect of pretreatments and air-frying on acrylamide generation in fried potatoes. J Food Sci. 2015;80(5):T1120–8
- U.S. FDA — Acrylamide Questions and Answers
Not medical advice. This content is for general informational purposes and does not replace guidance from a qualified health professional.